Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
  • B41M5/50—Recording sheets characterised by the coating used to improve ink, dye or pigment receptivity, e.g. for ink-jet or thermal dye transfer recording
  • B41M5/52—Macromolecular coatings
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M2205/00—Printing methods or features related to printing methods; Location or type of the layers
  • B41M2205/12—Preparation of material for subsequent imaging, e.g. corona treatment, simultaneous coating, pre-treatments
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M2205/00—Printing methods or features related to printing methods; Location or type of the layers
  • B41M2205/38—Intermediate layers; Layers between substrate and imaging layer
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
  • B41M5/50—Recording sheets characterised by the coating used to improve ink, dye or pigment receptivity, e.g. for ink-jet or thermal dye transfer recording
  • B41M5/502—Recording sheets characterised by the coating used to improve ink, dye or pigment receptivity, e.g. for ink-jet or thermal dye transfer recording characterised by structural details, e.g. multilayer materials
  • B41M5/506—Intermediate layers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
  • B41M5/50—Recording sheets characterised by the coating used to improve ink, dye or pigment receptivity, e.g. for ink-jet or thermal dye transfer recording
  • B41M5/502—Recording sheets characterised by the coating used to improve ink, dye or pigment receptivity, e.g. for ink-jet or thermal dye transfer recording characterised by structural details, e.g. multilayer materials
  • B41M5/508—Supports
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
  • B41M5/50—Recording sheets characterised by the coating used to improve ink, dye or pigment receptivity, e.g. for ink-jet or thermal dye transfer recording
  • B41M5/52—Macromolecular coatings
  • B41M5/5218—Macromolecular coatings characterised by inorganic additives, e.g. pigments, clays
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
  • B41M5/50—Recording sheets characterised by the coating used to improve ink, dye or pigment receptivity, e.g. for ink-jet or thermal dye transfer recording
  • B41M5/52—Macromolecular coatings
  • B41M5/5227—Macromolecular coatings characterised by organic non-macromolecular additives, e.g. UV-absorbers, plasticisers, surfactants
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
  • B41M5/50—Recording sheets characterised by the coating used to improve ink, dye or pigment receptivity, e.g. for ink-jet or thermal dye transfer recording
  • B41M5/52—Macromolecular coatings
  • B41M5/5254—Macromolecular coatings characterised by the use of polymers obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. vinyl polymers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
  • B41M5/50—Recording sheets characterised by the coating used to improve ink, dye or pigment receptivity, e.g. for ink-jet or thermal dye transfer recording
  • B41M5/52—Macromolecular coatings
  • B41M5/529—Macromolecular coatings characterised by the use of fluorine- or silicon-containing organic compounds
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
  • Y10T428/249921—Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component
  • Y10T428/249953—Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
  • Y10T428/25—Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles
  • Y10T428/254—Polymeric or resinous material
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
  • Y10T428/25—Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles
  • Y10T428/259—Silicic material
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
  • Y10T428/26—Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component, the element or component having a specified physical dimension
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
  • Y10T428/29—Coated or structually defined flake, particle, cell, strand, strand portion, rod, filament, macroscopic fiber or mass thereof
  • Y10T428/2913—Rod, strand, filament or fiber
  • Y10T428/2933—Coated or with bond, impregnation or core
  • Y10T428/294—Coated or with bond, impregnation or core including metal or compound thereof [excluding glass, ceramic and asbestos]
  • Y10T428/2951—Metal with weld modifying or stabilizing coating [e.g., flux, slag, producer, etc.]
  • Y10T428/2955—Silicic material in coating
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
  • Y10T428/29—Coated or structually defined flake, particle, cell, strand, strand portion, rod, filament, macroscopic fiber or mass thereof
  • Y10T428/2913—Rod, strand, filament or fiber
  • Y10T428/2933—Coated or with bond, impregnation or core
  • Y10T428/2964—Artificial fiber or filament
  • Y10T428/2967—Synthetic resin or polymer
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
  • Y10T428/29—Coated or structually defined flake, particle, cell, strand, strand portion, rod, filament, macroscopic fiber or mass thereof
  • Y10T428/2913—Rod, strand, filament or fiber
  • Y10T428/2933—Coated or with bond, impregnation or core
  • Y10T428/2964—Artificial fiber or filament
  • Y10T428/2967—Synthetic resin or polymer
  • Y10T428/2969—Polyamide, polyimide or polyester
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
  • Y10T428/29—Coated or structually defined flake, particle, cell, strand, strand portion, rod, filament, macroscopic fiber or mass thereof
  • Y10T428/2982—Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]
  • Y10T428/2991—Coated
  • Y10T428/2993—Silicic or refractory material containing [e.g., tungsten oxide, glass, cement, etc.]

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to ink-jet printing. More particularly, the present invention relates to the preparation of semi-metal or metal oxide-based media coatings for ink-jet applications.
• Ink-jet inks typically comprise an ink vehicle and a colorant, the latter of which may be a dye or a pigment.
• Dye-based ink-jet inks used in photographic image printing are almost always water-soluble dyes.
• such dye-based ink-jet inks are usually not very water fast, i.e. images tend to shift in hue and edge sharpness is reduced upon exposure to humid conditions, especially when printed on media substrates having a porous ink-receiving layer.
• images created from these water-soluble dye-based ink-jet inks tend to fade over time, such as when exposed to ambient light and/or air.
• Pigment-based inks allow the creation of images that are vastly improved in humid fastness and image fade resistance. Pigment based images, however, are inferior to dye-based ink-jet inks with respect to the desirable trait of color saturation.
• Print media surfaces play a key role in fade properties, humid fastness, and the quality of ink-jet produced printed images.
• the degree of air fade, humid fastness, and image quality can be dependent on the chemistry of the media surface.
• many ink-jet inks can be made to perform better when an appropriate media surface is used.
• pigment based ink can be very sensitive to media coating compositions.
• Images printed with pigment based ink on porous media usually exhibit haze, lower gloss, or even completely lose gloss (also referred as degloss) at high ink density.
• gloss also referred as degloss
• the ability for a printed imaged to be handled and exhibit scratch resistance can also be poor if the media is not compatible with ink-jet inks, particularly pigment-based ink-jet inks.
• the scratch resistance of the printed image can be significantly improved.
• color gamut, black density, and humid fastness for dye-based ink-jet inks can also be significantly improved.
• a method of preparing a porous media substrate can comprise steps of preparing a coating composition including metal or semi- metal oxide particulates, a polymeric binder, and at least one water soluble coating formulation additive; applying the coating composition to a media substrate to form an ink-receiving layer having a porous surface, wherein at least a portion of the water soluble coating formulation additive remains unreacted at the ink-receiving layer; and removing at least a portion of the water soluble coating formulation additive from the ink-receiving layer.
• a media sheet can comprise a media substrate and a coating composition including metal or semi-metal oxide particulates, a polymeric binder, and at least one water soluble coating formulation additive applied to the media substrate.
• the water soluble coating formulation additive can be configured to enhance at least one coating preparation, coating application, or media performance property of the media sheet. Upon application, excess amounts of the water soluble coating formulation additive are removed.
• Image permanence refers to characteristics of an ink-jet printed image that relate to the ability of the image to last over a period of time. Characteristics of image permanence include image fade resistance, water fastness, humid fastness, light fastness, smudge resistance, air pollution induced fading resistance, scratch and rub resistance, etc.
• Media substrate or “substrate” includes any substrate that can be coated for use in the ink-jet printing arts including papers, overhead projector plastics, coated papers, fabric, art papers, e.g., water color paper, and the like.
• Porous media coating typically includes inorganic particulates, such as silica or alumina particulates, bound together by a polymeric binder. Optionally, mordants and/or other additives can also be present.
• Such additives can be water soluble coating formulation additives including multivalent salts, such as aluminum chlorohydrate; organosilane reagents chemically attached to the inorganic particulates; and/or acidic components such as acidic crosslinking agents.
• the composition can be used as a coating for various media substrates, and can be applied by any of a number of methods known in the art. Additionally, such compositions can be applied in single layer or in multiple layers. If multiple layers are applied, then these multiple layers can be of the same or similar composition, or can be of different compositions.
• water soluble coating formulation additive refers to ionic and other compositions that are added to coating compositions for preparative, coating, or performance enhancing purposes. Though useful for these purposes, unreacted or excess amounts of such materials that remain at resulting ink-receiving layers are undesirable with respect to print quality. For example, water soluble coating formulation additives tend to coalesce or coagulate colorants of ink-jet inks upon printing, as well diminish image gloss. Examples of water soluble coating formulation additives include unreacted acidic crosslinking agents and other acids, salts such as multivalent or high valent salts, and unreacted organosilane reagents.
• Basicity can be defined by the term m/(3n) in that equation.
• ACH can be prepared by reacting hydrated alumina AICI 3 with aluminum powder in a controlled condition. The exact composition depends upon the amount of aluminum powder used and the reaction conditions. Typically, the reaction can be carried out to give a product with a basicity of 40% to 83%.
• ACH can be supplied as a solution, but can also be supplied as a solid. There are other ways of referring to ACH, which are known in the art. Typically, ACH comprises many different molecular sizes and configurations in a single mixture.
• An exemplary stable ionic species in ACH can have the formula [AI 12 (OH) 24 AlO 4 (H 2 O) 12 ] 7+ .
• preferred compositions include aluminum chlorides and aluminum nitrates of the formula AI(OH) 2 X to AI 3 (OH) 8 X, where X is CI or NO 3 .
• preferred compositions can be prepared by contacting silica particles with an aluminum chlorohydrate (AI 2 (OH) 5 CI or AI 2 (OH)CI 5 .nH 2 O). It is believed that contacting a silica particle with an aluminum compound as described above causes the aluminum compound to become associated with or bind to the surface of the silica particles. This can be either by covalent association or through an electrostatic interaction to form a cationic charged silica, which can be measured by a Zeta potential instrument.
• Organicsilane reagent or “reagent” includes compositions that comprise a functional or active moiety which is covalently attached to a silane grouping.
• the organosilane reagent can become covalently attached or otherwise attracted to the surface of metal or semi-metal oxide particulates, such as silica or alumina.
• moieties that can provide a desirable function include anionic dye anchoring groups (such as amines, quaternary ammonium salts, etc.), ultraviolet absorbers, metal chelators, hindered amine light stabilizers, reducing agents, hydrophobic groups, ionic groups, buffering groups, or functionalities for subsequent reactions.
• the functional moiety portion of the organosilane reagent can be directly attached to the silane grouping, or can be appropriately spaced from the silane grouping, such as by from 1 to 10 carbon atoms or other known spacer groupings.
• the silane grouping of the organosilane reagent can be attached to inorganic particulates of the porous media coating composition through hydroxyl groups, halo groups, or alkoxy groups present on the reagent.
• the organosilane reagent can be merely attracted to the surface of the inorganic particulates.
• the term "ink-receiving layer(s)" refers to a layer or multiple layers that are coated on a media substrate, which are configured to receive ink upon printing.
• the ink-receiving layer(s) do not necessarily have to be the outermost layer, but can be layer that is beneath another coating.
• the term "about" when referring to a numerical value or range is intended to encompass the values resulting from experimental error that can occur when taking measurements. Ratios, concentrations, amounts, and other numerical data may be presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited.
• a weight range of about'1 wt% to about 20 wt% should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited concentration limits of 1 wt% to about 20 wt%, but also to include individual concentrations such as 2 wt%, 3 wt%, 4 wt%, and sub-ranges such as 5 wt% to 15 wt%, 10 wt% to 20 wt%, etc.
• the present invention is drawn to a method of preparing a porous media substrate can comprise steps of preparing a coating composition including metal or semi-metal oxide particulates, a polymeric binder, and at least one water soluble coating formulation additive; applying the coating composition to a media substrate to form an ink-receiving layer having a porous surface, wherein at least a portion of the water soluble coating formulation additive remains unreacted at the ink-receiving layer; and removing at least a portion of the water soluble coating formulation additive from the ink- receiving layer.
• a media sheet can comprise a media substrate and a coating composition including metal or semi-metal oxide particulates, a polymeric binder, and at least one water soluble coating formulation additive applied to the media substrate.
• the water soluble coating formulation additive can be configured to enhance at least one coating preparation, coating application, or media performance property of the media sheet. Upon application, excess amounts of the water soluble coating formulation additive are removed.
• Pigment-based ink which can contain latex particulates and/or binders, can be very sensitive to undesired material that can be present in ink-receiving layers after drying.
• water soluble coating formulation additive such as acids, multivalent ions, or aluminum chlorohydrate, can be desired for the manufacture certain media coatings.
• ionic compositions such as multivalent ionic material
• scratch resistance can become poor due to pigment interaction with such media surfaces.
• unreacted boric acid which is often used as a crosslinking agent to increase the binding strength of polyvinyl alcohol binder in semi-metal or metal oxide-based media coatings, can also be problematic in finished ink-receiving layers.
• the present invention is drawn to specialty ink-jet media and methods of making the same, wherein these ionic and other interfering water soluble components are at least partially removed to produce improved compatibility with ink-jet ink components, such as dyes and/or pigments.
• Printed images on such media have shown uniform and high gloss, as well as improved scratch resistance with pigment-based ink-jet inks.
• these media coatings have shown high color chroma and black density, as well as improved image gloss.
• a media coating can be prepared that exhibits improved lightfastness, scratch resistance, and image quality.
• Such a coating can include a porous pigment, such as fumed silica (about 50 wt% to 75 wt%), as a primary structural particulate component; a multivalent salt, such as aluminum chlorohydrate (about 5 wt% to 8 wt%), which provides a cationic surface charge to the system; and a binder, such as polyvinyl alcohol (about 15 wt% to 20 wt%) to bind the silica and the aluminum chlorohydrate together.
• a crosslinking agent such as boric acid (about 0.5 wt% to 5 wt%) can be added.
• the coating mix can be applied on a non-absorbing base or substrate, and subsequently dried.
• the coat weight can be controlled at from 25 g/m 2 to 35 g/m 2 .
• the coated paper can then be passed through a water bath or water spray, causing the free acid and free high valent ions in the coating to be substantially removed.
• a second coating including more spherical colloidal silica (40 nm to 100 nm) can be applied as an overcoat to provide a glossy and scratch resistant finish. If the second coating is not formulated with ionic compositions or acid, for example, a washing step is not necessary, though such a step is not precluded.
• such particulates that can be selected for use include silica, alumina, titania, zirconia, aluminum silicate, calcium carbonate, and/or other naturally occurring pigments.
• These compositions can be in various forms and in various shapes, for example, silica can be fumed silica, colloidal silica, precipitated silica, or grounded silica gel, depending on the affect that is desired to achieve.
• 30 nm to 100 nm spherical silica particulates can be used to provide a glossy appearance, whereas larger less spherical particulates may provide a less glossy appearance.
• More irregular shapes may provide more voids between particles than may be present with tightly packed spherical particulates.
• a binder is added to the composition to bind the particulates together.
• An amount of binder is typically added that provides a balance between binding strength and maintaining particulate surface voids and inter-particle spaces for allowing ink to be received.
• Exemplary binders that can be used include polyvinyl alcohol, both fully hydrolyzed and partially hydrolyzed, such as Airvol supplied by Air Product or Mowiol supplied by Clariant; modified polyvinyl alcohol, such as acetoacetylated polyvinyl alcohols commercially available as the GOHSEFIMER Z series from Nippon Gohsei; amine modified polyvinyl alcohol; and polyvinyl alcohol modified by silane coupling agent.
• binders that can be used include polyester, polyester-melanine, styrene-acrylic acid copolymers, styrene-acrylic acid-alkyl acrylate copolymers, styrene-maleic acid copolymers, styrene-maleic acid-alkyl acrylate copolymers, styrene-methacrylic acid copolymers, styrene-methacrylic acid-alkyl acrylate copolymers, styrene- maleic half ester copolymers, vinyl naphthalene-acrylic acid copolymers, vinyl naphthalene-maleic acid copolymers, and salts thereof.
• polyvinyl alcohol and/or modified polyvinyl alcohol can be more desirable to use as the interaction between the binder and silica is very strong, resulting in a formed coating that is substantially water insoluble.
• a crosslinking agent such as boric acid
• a crosslinking agent can be added to the coating composition. When a crosslinking agent is used, less binder may be required for use.
• Other crosslinking agents that can be used include borate salt, titanium salt, vanadium and chromium salts, melamine formaldehyde, glyoxal, thiourea formaldehyde, and Curesan.
• a purpose of the invention is to remove unreacted water soluble coating formulation additives, this does not mean that only water soluble coating formulation additive must be used, as other formulation additives that do not interfere with print quality can also be used therewith.
• aluminum chlorohydrate or another multivalent salt can be added to aid in the coating composition as well.
• Exemplary salts that can be added to coating compositions to provide benefit to the coating composition, but which should be removed from the ink-receiving layer if excess amounts are present include aluminum chlorohydrate, and trivalent or tetravalent metal oxides with metals such as aluminum, chromium, gallium, titanium, and zirconium.
• aluminum chlorohydrate it can be present in the coating composition at from 2 wt% to 20 wt% compared to the silica content, and in a more detailed embodiment, the aluminum chlorohydrate can be present at from 5 wt% to 10 wt%.
• the semi-metal or metal oxide particulates can also be modified with organic groups.
• organosilane reagents can be added to the surface-activated silica to add additional positively charged moieties to the surface, or to provide another desired function at or near the surface, e.g., ultraviolet absorber, chelating agent, hindered amine light stabilizer, reducing agent, hydrophobic group, ionic group, buffering group, or functionality for a subsequent reaction.
• these reagents are primarily organic, they can provide different properties with respect to ink-jet ink receiving properties.
• the organosilane reagents can be amine-containing silanes.
• the amine-containing silanes can include quaternary ammonium salts.
• amine-containing silanes include 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, N-(2-aminoethyl-3- aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-(triethoxysilylpropyl)-diethylenetriamine, poly(ethyleneimine)trimethoxysilane, aminoethylaminopropyl trimethoxysilane, aminoethylaminoethylaminopropyl trimethoxysilane, and the quaternary ammonium salts of the amine coupling agents mentioned above.
• organosilane reagent includes trimethoxysilylpropyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride.
• organosilane coupling agents can be useful for the modification of a silica surface, including bis(2-hydroethyl)-3- aminopropyltriethoxysilane, 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane, 3- glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, bis(triethoxysilylpropyl)disulfide, 3- aminopropyltriethoxysilane, 3-aminopropylsilsesquioxane, bis-
• organosilane reagents can also be used that provide a benefit to a printing system, such as reagents that include an active ligand or moiety.
• active ligands or moieties include those that act as an ultraviolet absorber, chelating agent, hindered amine light stabilizer, reducing agent, hydrophobic group, ionic group, buffering group, or functionality for a subsequent reaction.
• Formula 1 provides examples of organosilane reagents that can accordingly be used:
• R groups from 0 to 2 of the R groups can be H, -CH 3 , - CH 2 CH 3 , or -CH 2 CH 2 CH3; from 1 to 3 of the R groups can be halo or alkoxy; and from 1 to 3 of the R groups can be an active or functional moiety, such as one described previously. If halo is present, then Formula 1 can be said to be an organohalosilane reagent. If alkoxy is present, then Formula 1 can be said to be an organoalkoxysilane reagent.
• An inclusive list of functional moieties that can be attached to the metal or semi-metal oxide surface includes straight or branched alkyl having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, cyano, amino, halogen substituted amino, carboxy, halogen substituted carboxy, sulfonate, halogen substituted sulfonate, halogen, epoxy, furfuryl, mercapto, hydroxyl, pyridyl, imidazoline derivative-substituted lower alkyl, lower cycloalkyl, lower alkyl derivatives of cycloalkyl, lower cycloalkenyl, lower alkyl derivatives of cycloalkenyl, lower epoxycycloalkyl, lower alkyl derivatives of epoxycycloalkyl, phenyl, alkyl derivatized phenyl, phenoxy, poly(ethylene oxides), poly(propylene oxide), copolymer of polyethyleneoxide and poly(propyleneoxide), vinyl, benzylic
• acids such as boric acid
• boric acid By adding boric acid, a crosslinking reaction can be carried out with the binder which provides for improved binding strength. Improved binding strength can lead to reduced cracking at the ink- receiving layer.
• adding a multivalent salt, such as aluminium chloride hydrate can provide stability to the coating mix prior to application, and reduces the tendency for the receiving layer to be low in gloss.
• boric acid can be added to improve the binding power of the coating composition, thereby reducing the tendency of a dried receiving layer to crack.
• the aluminum chlorohydrate and the boric acid provide these benefits, they also have the negative affect of causing ink-jet inks under perform.
• pigment-based inks in the presence of boric acid and aluminum chlorohydrate on a media substrate, have a tendency to lose their gloss at a higher ink load. Thus gloss uniformity will suffer.
• unreacted high valent salt and acid can work to undesirably coagulate ink.
• dye- or pigment-based inks coagulate, color gamut suffers and image scratch resistance will deteriorate.
• By conducting a washing step to substantially remove excess acid and excess high valent salts image quality can be greatly improved.
• the media substrate that can be used can be of any substrate known in the art, and can include papers, overhead projector plastics, coated papers, fabric, art papers, e.g., water color paper, photobase, or the like.
• the application of the porous coating composition to a media substrate can be by any method known in the art, such as air knife coating, blade coating, gate roll coating, doctor blade coating, Meyer rod coating, roller coating, reverse roller coating, gravure coating, brush coating, sprayer coating, or cascade coating.
• this step can be conducted by bath, spraying, or by other known washing techniques.
• the water can be at about room temperature, though temperatures from about 0°C to 90°C can used. In one embodiment, hot water from 30°C to 50°C can be used.
• the water used can be deionized water, hard water, soft water, or water with additives.
• the water can include a buffer (0.1 to 1% solids) to control the pH during the washing stage at from pH 5 to 7.5.
• the washing step can be used to contribute to the final pH of the media sheet.
• the pH of an ink-receiving layer of the media sheet can be from about pH 4 to about pH 7.5.
• the pH of the ink-receiving layer can be from about pH 5 to about pH 6.
• Other additives that can be present in the water include additives that contribute to print quality, such as airfade additives or the like.
• airfade additives examples include radical scavingers, hindered amines, and/or thio compounds such as thiodiethylene glycol.
• Ink-jet ink compositions that can be used to print on the coated media compositions of the present invention are typically prepared in an aqueous formulation or liquid vehicle which can include water, cosolvents, surfactants, buffering agents, biocides, sequestering agents, viscosity modifiers, humectants, binders, and/or other known additives.
• Colorants such as dyes and/or pigments are also present to provide color to the ink-jet ink.
• the liquid vehicle can comprise from about 70 wt% to about 99.9 wt% of the ink-jet ink composition.
• liquid vehicle can also carry polymeric binders, latex particulates, and/or other solids.
• Example 1 Preparation of ACH-treated silica To 375 ml of water were added 11 mL of 2N NaOH and 27.9 grams of
• the aluminum chlorohydrate was used as dispersing agent which converted the silica surface from anionic to cationic, providing a repulsion force with respect to the silica pigments, thereby preventing the sol from flocculating and providing acceptable stability.
• Example 2 Preparation of base coating composition
• ACH-treated silica prepared in accordance with Example 1 was mixed with Boric acid.
• polyvinyl alcohol, thiodiethyleneglycol and Olin-10G surfactant were mixed together.
• the contents of the two containers were admixed together.
• the relative amount of each of the ingredients is set forth in Table 1 below, with the balance being water.
• Example 3 Preparation of media substrate having base coating composition coated thereon
• the base coating of Example 2 (Composition 1) was coated on two separate sheets of photobase paper, each coating being applied at 28 g/m 2 (referred to as Sample 1A and Control Sample 1B).
• Sample 1A was soaked in a 100 ml bath of water for 3 minutes and re- dried.
• Table 2 below describes the dry g/m 2 of each compositional component of Sample 1A after preparation in accordance with the present example. Table 2
• Control Sample 1B was prepared similarly, but was not soaked and re- dried, i.e. no washing step.
• Example 4 Preparation of a top coating composition
• a top coating composition was prepared by admixing boric acid, glycerine, and Cartacoat K303 C. The amount of each composition is set forth in Table 3 below.
• Example 5 Preparation of media substrate having base coating composition and top coating composition coated thereon
• the base coating of Example 2 (Composition 1) and the top coating of Example 4 (Composition 2) were applied in quick succession using a curtain cascade coating method.
• the bottom coating layer of Example 2 was applied at a coat weight of 27 g/m 2
• the top coating layer of Example 4 utilized spherical colloidal silica and was applied at a coat weight of 0.2 g/m 2 .
• Two sheets of coated samples were labeled as Sample 2A and Control Sample 2B). Sample 2A and 2B were both dried. Sample 2A was then passed through a waterbath and re-dried.
• the resident time of Sample 2A in the water bath was adjusted to be about 30 to 50 seconds, with the water being continually agitated.
• Table 4 describes the dry g/m 2 of each compositional component of the top coating layer of Sample 2A after preparation in accordance with the present example.
• Control Sample 2B was prepared similarly, but was not soaked and re- dried, i.e. no washing step after application of the top coating.
• Example 6 Preparation of alternative top coating composition
• An alternative top coating composition was prepared by admixing Olin 10G, glycerine, Cartacoat K303 C, and polyvinyl alcohol (MO2566). This top coating composition was devoid of any water soluble coating formulation additive. The amount of each composition is set forth in Table 5 below.
• Example 7 Preparation of media substrate having base coating composition and alternative top coating composition coated thereon
• a media sheet was prepared in accordance with Example 3 (Sample 1 A) having at least a portion of water soluble electrolytes and other ionic components washed therefrom. The coated media was then passed through a doctor roll to remove the surface water.
• the top coating of Example 6 (Composition 3) was coated on top of the washed Sample 1A media sheet. The coat weight of the top coating composition was applied to Sample 1A at a coating weight of about 0.2 g/m 2 . As apparent from Table 5, the top coating composition was formulated such that it was devoid of boric acid and electrolytes. The media sheet was then re-dried and labeled as Sample 3A. Table 6 below describes the dry g/m 2 of each compositional component of the top coating layer of Sample 3A after preparation in accordance with the present example.
• Control Sample 3B was prepared by using Control sample 1 B (base coating Composition 1 applied to photobase without washing step), which was directly coated with the top coating composition of the Example 6 (top coating Composition 3).
• the top layer composition coat weight was also 0.2 g/m 2 .
• Example 8 Print results Various tests were conducted comparing Samples 1 A, 2A, and 3A to Control Samples 1B, 2B, and 3B, respectively. Each of the "A" samples were washed in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, and the "B" control samples lacked a desired washing step. For each media sample, tests were conducted that compared a) pigment gloss uniformity; b) dye gamut; c) humid bleed; d) media brittleness; and e) ink capacity. a) pigment gloss uniformity Two color ramp types were printed on each media sample (1A, 1 B, 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B).
• Type I primary and black
• color ramps cyan, gray, light cyan, light magenta, magenta, yellow, and black
• Type II (secondary) color ramps blue, cyan, green, magenta, orange, red, and yellow
• black ink was gradually mixed therein causing the color to transition to black over another 16 steps (total of 16 steps for Type I and 32 steps for Type II).
• Each pixel was sized at 1/300 of an inch.
• Gloss was determined based on a 0 to 100 scale, where 0 is no gloss and 100 is maximum gloss.
• Each of the 16 densities for the Type I color ramp and the 32 densities for Type II color ramp on each of their respective 7 colors was measured on multiple media types. Table 7 depicts an average gloss comparison for Sample 2A and 2B.
• Samples 1 A, 2A, and 3A were compared to Control Samples 1 B, 2B, and 3B to determine which had a greater ink capacity, respectively.
• Each of Samples 1 A, 2A, and 3A had a porosity of 0.95 cm 3 /gram of coating.
• Control Samples 1 B, 2B, and 3C had a porosity of 0.91 cm 3 /gram of coating.
• the washed samples had an increased ink receiving capacity compared to the samples that were not washed in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

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